Vehicle.



B. L. DAVIS.

VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.28. 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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Attorneys B. L. DAVIS.

VEHICLE.

APPLICATION- FILED AUG.28. 1913.

Patented Sept. 28, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOCIRAPH (IO-,WASHXNGTON, n. c.

BERT I1. DAVIS, 03! WICHITA, KANSAS.

VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28,1915.

Application filed August 28, 1913. Serial No. 787,183.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERT L. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Wichita, in the county of Sedgwick and State of Kansas, haveinvented a new and useful Vehicle, of which the following is aspecification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a novelmeans for propolling a vehicle. The vehicle has been shown. in the formof a bicycle, but, obviously, any number of ground wheels may beprovided.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple structure, adapted tobe operated by the hands of the user, to propel the vehicle and steerthe vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means foroperatlvely connecting the actuating mechanism with the rear wheel .ofthe structure.

l/Vith'the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in-the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2 is a top plan,parts being omitted; Fig. 3 through the rear hub, parts appearing inelevation; Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of one of the ratchetmechanisms; Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of the combined propelling andsteering mechanism; Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the structure shownin Fig. 5,

, parts being sectioned; Fig. 7'is a fragmental plan showing one end ofthe hub and adjacent parts; Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation showing aslightly modified means for connecting the handle operatively with theremaining portions of the steering and propelling mechanism; Fig. 9 is asectional detail of the structure shown in Fig; 8.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a frame 1 which may beof any desired I form, depending upon the number of ground wheelsemployed. In the present instance, although not necessarily, thestructure has been employed on the frame of a bicycle. Slidable in theframe 1 is a seat post 2 held in place'by a set screw Band supporting ais a transverse section.

platform 4. Disposed above the platform 4 is a seat 5 comprising a back6. Standards 7 are secured to the seat 5 and are vertically slidable inthe platform 4. Springs 8 sur round the standards 7, the upper ends ofthe springs 8 being secured to the platform 4 and the lower ends of thesprings being secured to the standards 7 so as to support the seat 5yieldingly. When the nature of the invention is better understood, itwill be obvious that the back 6 affords a brace, permitting the operatorto exercise the necessary effort upon portions of the actuating orpropelling portion of the mechanism. The forward frame 1 is providedwith an upright socket 9 within which is rotatable a shaft 10 providedat its lower end with forks 11, supporting for rotation the forwardwheel 12. At its upper end, the socket 9 is provided with bearings 14having, in their outer faces, circular ball races receiving balls 15. Alever 16 is provided, the same terminating at its lower end inextensions 17. In its intermediate portion, the lever comprising theparts 16 and 17 is provided with bearings 18, overlapping the bearings14 of the socket 9, and engaging the balls 15. Pivot elements 19 connectthe bearings 18 and 14, so that the lever 16-17 is free to swing, asindicated by the arrows A in Fig. 1, in a common plane with the forwardwheel 12.

Mounted to rotate within the tubular lever 16 is a shaft 20 provided atits lower end with a ball 21, received in a socket 22 formed at theupper end of the shaft 10. The ball 21 is equipped with outstanding pins23 or other projections received in upright slots 24 formed in thesocket 22. The ball and socket joint 2l22 is concentric with the hingeunion afforded by the pivotal elements 19. Secured to thefupper-end ofthe shaft 20 is a transverse, horizontally disposed handle 25.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that, through the medium of thehandle 25, rotatory movement may be imparted to the shaft 20, rotatorymovement being transmitted from the shaft 20 to the shaft .10,

the fork 11 and .the forward wheel 12 through the pin and slotconnection 2324- constituting a part ofthe ball and socket joint 2l22.Thus, the vehicle may be steered. At the same time, the hinged jointafforded by the pivot elements 19will permit the lever 16-17 to betilted a plane 00- inciding with the plane of the wheel 12, and

when the lever 1617 is thus tilted, as india cated by the arrows A inFig. 1, motion will be transmitted from the steering and p re the samecorresponding to the lever 16 hereinbefore described. The shaft 27exercises the same functions as the shaft and the shaft 28 correspondsto the shaft 10, the ball and socket joint being shown at 29 and thesame being provided with the pin and slot connection 30. Secured to theupper end of the shaft '27 is a beveled pinion 31, meshing into abeveled pinion 32, keyed to a shaft 33, journaled for rotation in an"extension 34formed at the upper end of the tubular lever 26.v Atransverse handle 35 is secured to the rear end of the shaft 3'3, thehandle 35 corresponding to the handle 25.

From the foregoing description relative to Figs. 8 and 9, it will beobvious that the tubular lever 26 may be swung in the direction of the,arrows A in Fig. 1, through the medium ofthe handle 35,, thereby-toeffect the propelling of the vehicle. In order to effect afsteering ofthe vehicle, the handle 35 is tilted with the shaft 33 as a center in anapproximately vertical plane, and in the directiono'f the arrows B inFig. 8. When this operation is carried out, the shaft 33 will berotated, and the beveled pinion32 meshing into the beveledpinion 31 willac .tuate the shaft 27, the same, through the pin and slot connection30, imparting the rotatory movement to the shaft 28, the latteractuating the forks 1.1 and the wheel 12, to eifect a steering of thevehicle. Obviously,

the ball and socket joint 29 permits the.

shafts 27 and 29 to have the necessary knu'ckling movement, when thetubular lever 26 is'swung to and fro, in the direction of the arrows Ain Fig. 1 to effect a propelling of the vehicle.

Passing now to the mechanism whereby whenthe tubular lever 161s tiltedin the direction of the arrows A in Fig. 1, motion is transmittedito therear wheel 49, it will be noted that the invention includes a bifurcatedpitman 36, carrying at its forward end a pivot element 37, adapted to beengaged in anyone of a series of openings 38- formed in the extensions17 of thelever 16. The cbnstfuction last above outlined permits thethrowto be altered at will. the. pitman 36 carries a pivot element 40,

adapted to be engaged'in any one of aseriesof openings 41 formed in anupstanding arm 42 secured to one end of a crank shaft 43, journaled inthe usual location in the lower portion of the frame 1.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that The rearYeIid of motion may betransmitted to the crank shaft .43 'from'thehandle 25. If desired, thepitman 36 may be provided with pedals 39, se'tliat the operator mayactuate the structure; not only manually, but by leg-motion rotationahub 48 constituting a part of the rear wheel 49. To one end of the hub48 is secured a ratchet. wheel 50. Journaled on wheel 50 is a drum52providedwith pawls 53 adapted to engage the ratchet wheel. A

spiral spring 54 surrounds one end of the shaft 47 one end of the spring54 being securedto the shaft,;and the other end of the spring beingsecured to the rotatable drum 52. The drum 52 isprovided with a groovedtread 55, receiving the flexibleele;

' as well. Secured to opposite ends of the the shaft 47 and overhangingthe ratchet ment 45, oneendof the flexible element 45 being secured tothe periphery of the drum 52. A ratchet wheel 56 is secured to the otherend of the hub 48 and a drum 57, is

shaft 47. The drum 57 carries'pivotally mounted pawls, 59, adapted toengage the ratchet wheel 56. 'A spring 58 is coiled around thecorresponding end of the shaft 47, one end; of the spring. being securedto the drum 57 and the other end of the spring being secured tothe'shaft. The drum 57 is 7 provided with a grooved tread 60, receivingthe flexible element 46, the rear end ofthe flexible element beingsecured to the periphery of the drum. The ratchet wheel 56 is providedwith a groove neck 61 which lies adjacent the corresponding end of thehub, the neck 61- being adapted to receive a brake strap 62, one endofwhich is secured as indicated at 63 to the frame 1, the brake strapournaled en 'the corresponding end of the 62 being passed throughanfeyeor roller 64 7 upon the lower portion of the frame 1, and the forwardend of thebrake strap being connected to a p'edal 65 pivoted upon theframe 1-,as will beclearly understood from Fig; 1. p p r In practicaloperation, the lever 16 -17 is tilted on its fulcrum and motion is thustransmitted to the pitman36, the pitman 36 actuating the arm 42 and thelatter rotating the crank shaft 43, motion being thus transmitted to thearms-44. When one arm 44 is moved forwardly,;.the flexible element 45will be drawn upon, the same rotating the drum .52, the pawls 53 ofwhich, engaging the ratchet wheel 50 will impart rotary movement to thehub 48 and to the rear wheel 49.- During this operation, the coiledspring 54 will be put under tension and so soon as the pull upon theflexible element 45 is released, the spring Will rotate the drum 62rearwardly, permitting the pawls 53 to secure a new hold upon theratchet Wheel 50. From the crank shaft 43 and the other arm 44, motionis transmitted to the flexible element 46, the same actuating the drum57, the pawl 59, the ratchet wheel 56, the hub 48 and the wheel 49. Whenthe upper end of one arm 44 is moving forwardly, the lower end of theother arm 44 is moving rearwardly, and thus, through the flexibleelements 45 and 46 and the connected mechanisms, a practicallycontinuous rotary movement will be imparted to the hub 48 and to therear Wheel 49. Brake pressure may be applied through the medium of thepedal 65, the same actuating the strap 62, the latter being tightenedaround the neck 61 which constitutes a part of the ratchet wheel 56,this latter element being secured to one end of the hub 48. At any time,the shaft may be rotated through the medium of the handle and, throughthe pin and slot connection 2324 in the ball and socket joint 2l22,rotary movement will be imparted to the shaft 10, the forks l1 and theforward Wheel 12 to effect a steering of the vehicle. As hereinbeforestated, the ball and socket joint 2l22 is located concentric with thepivot elements 19, and consequently, the steering operation may takeplace simultaneously With the propelling operation afforded by thetilting of the lever 1617.

The structure shown in Figs. 8 and 9 has been described hereinbefore,but it may be stated briefly at this place that a vertical tiltingmovement of the handle with the shaft 33 as a center serves to rotatethe shaft 28 and effect a steering of the vehicle, through the medium ofthe intersecting beveled pinions 31 and 32, the shaft 27 and the pin andslot connection 30 in the ball and socket joint 29.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed is 1. In a vehicleof the class described, a frame; a lever mounted on the frame; a groundwheel j ournaled on the frame; means for connecting the lever with theground wheel to impart propelling motion to the ground wheel; amulti-part flexible shaft j ournaled partly in the frame and partly inthe lever; a steering wheel carried by one member of the multi-partshaft; a handle mounted to tilt on the lever; and means for operativelyconnecting the handle with the other member of the multi-part shaft toimpart rotation to the multi-part shaft and to effect a shifting of thesteering Wheel.

2. In a vehicle of the class described, a frame; a lever mounted on theframe; a ground wheel journaled on the frame; means for connecting thelever with the ground wheel to'impart propelling motion to the groundwheel; a multi-part flexible shaft journaled partly in the frame andpartly in the lever; and a steering wheel carried by one member of themulti-part shaft.

3. In a vehicle of the class described, a frame; a lever fulcrumed onthe frame; a shaft comprising cooperating members, one of which membersis ournaled on the frame, the other of which members is j ournaled inthe lever; a hinge joint uniting the members of the shaft and concentricwith the fulcrum of the lever; a steering wheel operatively connectedwith the frame-carried member of the shaft; a ground Wheel carried bythe frame; and means for connecting the ground wheel with the lever. Intestimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed mysignature in the presence of two witnesses.

BERT L. DAVIS. Witnesses:

ISIDOR LESERN, E. E. BLEGKERY.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

